If you would like your cat to be outdoor sometimes, it’s important not to let them out before they are ready, and only if you are certain that it is safe for them. Allow the cat to be out for short periods at first.
DO NOT LET YOUR CAT OUT BEFORE IT IS ID-MARKED, VACCINATED AND NEUTERED
A cat should be ID-marked, vaccinated and neutered before they are allowed outside. Wait until your kitten is around six months old before letting them out.
Registering and ID-marking your cat minimises the risk of them running away and disappearing. This also makes is possible to identify you as the owner should they be involved in an accident.
Vaccinations eliminate the risk of cats catching common illnesses. Most cats are fully vaccinated by the time they are three months old.
Further reading
- This is why you should ID-mark your cat
- Vaccinate your cat to minimises the risk of common illnesses.
Unless you plan to breed your cat, in accordance with The Swedish Board of Agriculture’s new regulations, you should have it neutered, especially if it’s an outdoor cat. Today in Sweden, there are far too many homeless cats, and unneutered, outdoor cats contribute to the problem. It is normally recommended to neuter cats when they are around six months, just as they become sexually mature.
Further reading
IS YOUR CAT READY TO BE ALLOWED OUTDOORS?
If your cat is ID-marked, vaccinated and neutered, this does not necessarily mean they are ready to be let outside. Perhaps it’s not yet time to let your cat outside. Cats who are frightened by unexpected noises can take a bit longer. It is not unusual for some cats to be as old as one year before they venture outside.
LET YOU CAT OUT GRADUALLY AT FIRST
The great outdoors can be an overwhelming experience for a young cat. If you allow your cat out too soon, there is a risk they will become too frightened and run and hide somewhere. Let your cat out at their own pace.
Start by letting your cat explore a lawn close to the house always on a leash, to help them become used to the outside world.
Once familiar with the lawn, and if they seems happy, then they are ready to be out with the cat for longer time.
